Government in Nuclear Meltdown

This is a rare event. I have some sympathy regarding a John Howard policy position, after he stated last week that the government had dropped plans for a nuclear waste dump in South Australia. Obviously worried about some South Australian marginals, he buckled under to the objections of the South Australia state government.

The Commonwealth's view is that the states will now have to clean up their own mess when disposing of low level radio active waste, the type generated in hospitals and the like. What they're going do with the high level waste generated by the Lucas Heights reactor, a Commonwealth facility, is unclear.

Despite the concerns of well meaning objectors, a waste facility could be safely placed in any of the larger states. Australia is one of the most sparsely populated and geologically stable continents in the world. It's an ideal place to safely store low grade nuclear waste, particulary the small amounts we produce. Stored in remote, stable geological strata deep below the surface, this type of waste would pose no threat to the environment.

Even higher level waste could be stored quite safely deep underground. As long as the waste was contained properly, the regions geological stablility would ensure it could be stored away from the biosphere for the thousands of years.

The environmental lobby would do us all a favour by supporting practical solutions for this problem. Having the Commonwealth back down when they feel vulnerable is not a win. The election will be over before the end of the year, but the waste, stored above ground and close to urban areas, will remain.